Stringed musical instrument



June 9, I931. G. D. BEAUCHAMP ,7

, STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT I Filed March- 11. 1929 I N VENTOR.

Patented June 9,1931

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application illed larch 11, 1929. Serial No. 346,009. I

This invention relates in general to stringed musical instruments, and more particularly to an instrument of the guitar or banjo type.

An object of the invention is to provide an '5 instrument of the character mentioned in which a single resonator or amplifier is provided, and which will be simple in construction, economical in produces. tonal values not capable of being produced in other stringed instruments of the same type.

Another object is to provide an instrument of small and convenient size having a single metallic resonator of conical form and im- 1 proved means for connecting the resonator with the strings, whereby the vibrations from the strings may be mitted to and amplified by the resonator, than by other means in us A further object is to provide in a stringed musical instrument an improved type of metallic resonator and bridge connecting the resonator with the strings.

Other objects may appear as the description 2 pro resses.

i I ave shown one form of device embodying my invention in the accompanying draw in in which ig. 1 is a top plan view of an instrument.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse section of the same on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan'on line 3-3 of ig. 4 is a fragmentary section of the 5 bridge. f

The body B of the instrument is of conventional form, and has a solid bottom 1, an open top 2, and a curved side 3. Any or all of said body members may be formed of wood, composition, or metal, and suitably attached togetherfor providing a hollow resonant body.

The usual neck N is provided longitudinally of the body and has an extension 4 extending longitudinally throughthe interior of the body as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Said neck carries a plurality of strings S, S etc., which are attached at their outer ends to the usual keys K, K etc., and the inner ends of the strings are attached to a metallic tail piece C overlying the top 2 of the body.. The said top manufacture, and which more efiectively .trans 7 2 has a circular opening 5, or said opening may be of an other suitable form, and it is covered by a etachable plate 6 with a central opening 7 therein. l

annular ring 8 of wood or metal is mounted internally of the body and is attached to the top 2 and the cover plate 6 by means of screws or brads 9. Said ring is shallower than the body of the instrument and may have attached to its lower edge by suitable means a thin metallic ring 10, which is supported at a plurality of points on posts 11, 11 etc., having their lower ends resting upon the bottom 1. The ring 10 also rests upon the neck portion 4: and has a large central opening 12 concentric with the opening of the cover plate 6. The ring 10 projects inwardly from the band 8 so as to provide a ledge upon which the circular edge of a metalllc resonator R is adapted to rest. Said resonator is of substantially conical form and is made of thin sheet metal, preferably aluminum, so thin in fact that it is readily flexible and yet sufliciently firm to maintain its sha e when mounted in operative position in t e instrument.

An annular head 13 is formed at the outer edge of the resonator, which engages the uper side of the ring 10. Inwardly of the ead, the resonator is bent at 14 so as to providea slightly angular ortion in cross section to permit of the rea y flexing and vibration of the metal.

Centrall of the opening 7 in the cover plate 6, and substantially in the plane of said plate, the upper portion 15 of the resonator is formed with an annular head or ridge 16 therearound and the top of the cone is depressed internally of the head. The plane of the strings S is substantially above the plate 6, and in order to transmit the vibrations from the strings to the resonator I pro vide a circular bridge member A which may have a fiat base portion 17 adapted to rest .upon the head 16 and to be attached thereto by rivets 18. I

The member A. may also be provided with a transverse diametrically disposed rib 19 which may or'may not be notched, for receiving the strings S, S etc. Thus the ribor bar with the strings.

holding the strings in tension, and said bar may be formed integrally with or apart from the member A as shown, for direct contact I have found that by the use of a single resonator and a circular tensioning member, as shown at A, the vibrations from the strings are readily transmitted to the resonator R and the resonator when so connected with the strings serves to substantially amplify the vibration set up in the strings, and the tonal qualities of the instrument are accordingly substantially improved.

i prefer to employ a guard 21 extended transversely of the instrument over the bridge V A. and attached at itsends 22, 22 by suitable means to the cover plate 6. Said cover plate is provided with a plurality of screened openings 23, 23 etc., from which the vibrations from the instrument emanate.

It will be observed that the resonator R is held in position by the tension of the strings and is not at any point secured to the supremoval of the cover plate 6, the members A and R may be readily replaced, removed, or repaired.

In'the construction of an instrument of this character, I have found it important in order to transmit the vibrations from the strings to the resonator and to produce a maximum volume in the instrument, that the member A should be firmly held in contact with the resonator as'at thebead 16 thruout the extent of the annular portion 17. Accordingly, the member A is made of substantial diameter.

Heretofore, instruments of this type have been constructed with a plurality of resonators of substantially smaller size than shown in the drawings relating to this particular device. Also, the bridge which connects the strings with the resonators has been either directly or indirectly connected with the apices of the resonators at single points only. In this device, howeverg by the em loyment of a circular tensioning member which engages the head 16 or the cone for'preterably the full extent of thecircle of contact, the vibrations are more efiectively transmitted to the resonator R than would otherwise be possible, and a satisfactory instrumentmay be provided with a single resonator instead of a plurality of resonators.

It will be observed from the fore oing description' and the consideration of t e drawings of my invention, that I have rovided a simple, compact, economical, and eficient musical instrument with amplified tonal qualities unusual to instruments of this type. I conceive it to be possible to modify the structure shown and described within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of my invention. What I claim is:

porting members. Dueto this fact, by the stretched thereover, a conical resonator sup.-

ing an stretched over the said body and said 'open- 130 1. A guitar comprising a hollow body having an opening in the top thereof, an annular ring depending from the top and below said opening, a conical metallic resonator supported within said ring with its base downwardly, a neck piece extending longitudinally from said body, strings attached to said neck piece and stretched over said body, and a circular bridge engaging the upper portion of said resonator at its inner side and said strings tor-holding the strings and the resonator in tension, whereby vibrations may be transmitted from the strings to the resonator.

2. A guitar as characterized in claim 1, including a second ring engaging the lower side of said first mentioned ring and projecting inwardly therefrom for engagement with and adapted to support. the base of said resonator. 35

3. A guitar as characterized in claim 1, including a cover plate mounted over the opening in said top andprovided with a central opening concentric with the upper portion of said resonator, said bridge extending through the opening in said cover plate.

4. A guitar as characterized in claim 1, including a cover plate mounted over the opening in said top and provided with a central 0 ening concentric with the upper ortion 0 said resonator, said bridge extending through the opening in said'cover plate, a. transverse guard member havin a central portion elevated from theplane 0 said cover plate and overlying said strings and said ridge, and end portions bent ownwardly and attached to said cover plate.

'5. A guitar comprising a body having an opening in the top thereof and strings orted in the body below said opening, means or supporting t e strings in playing position over the'top of said body, and a tension ing member engaging said strin s and said resonator and having an annu ar portion making annular contact with the resonator. 6. A guitar comprisin a body, a conical resonator mounted therein, strings stretched over said body, and a bridge engaging said strings and having an annular portion mak ing annular contact with said resonator for tensionin the strings and transmittingvibrations 1:- the s rings to the resonator. '1. A guitar corising ahollow body having an oening in the top, dig t-ings supported over sai opening, a conical resonator mounted in the body and havinganannular bridge receiving Y portion -disposed adjacent said opening, and a brid e inter posedfbetween said strings and sai resonator and engaging said annular portion, for thepurpose lit! . described.

a 8. A guitar comprising a hollow. body havopening in the top thereof, strings ing, a conical resonator mounted in said means for said'strings embodying a member V body and having an annular bridge receiving having an annular portion making annular portion adjacent said opening, and a bridge contact with sand resonator and engaging said engaging said strings and said resonator and strin having a circular base engaging the annular portion of said resonator for holding said strings in tension and for transmitting vibrations from the strings to the resonator.

9. A guitar comprising a hollow body,

. strings held thereon, a conical metallic resonator mounted within the body, and provided with a central annular bridge receiving portion formed by indenting the central portion of the cone, and a circular bridge contacting therewith throughout the extent of said annular bridge receiving portion and engaging said strings, whereby the resonator and the strings are held in tension.' 7

10. A guitar comprising a hollow bod; having a central opening in the top-thereo strin su orted over said 0 enin a con-- gs a:

ical metallic resonator supported in said body at its base with the apex uppermost and having its central portion conicallyformed with the base thereof uppermost to provide an I annular bridge receiving portion adjacent said opening, a bridge mounted on said bridge receiving portion and engaging said strings for holding the strings and, the resonator in tension.

11. A guitar comprising a hollow body having an opening in the top thereof, strings stretched over said opening, a single conical resonator mounted in said body andhaving its central portion disposed adjacent sai opening, said central portion including an annular bridge receiving portion, and a br dge making annular contact therewith and engagin said strings for holding the resonator an the strings in tension 12. A stringed musical instrument comprising a body, a resonator mounted therein and provided with a central depressed port1on, means for supporting said resonator in operative position, strings stretched over said ody, and means directly engaging, said strings'and said depressed portion for'communicating vibrations -from the strings to the v resonator.

13 A guitar comprising a hollow body having an opening in the top thereof, a plate closing said opening and provided with a a smaller opening therein, an annular partition within said body and depending from the 7 top thereof and having its inner periphery corresponding to the margins'of the opening in said body, a ring engaging the lower edge of said partition and extended inwardly from the inner periphery thereof forming a ledge, a conical resonator having its base mounted on said ledge audits upper portion positioned adjacent the opening. in said cover plate,

means for operatively supporting strings over the top of said body, and tensioning GEORGE n. BEAUOHAMP.

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DEQGLAEMER 1,808,756; George D. Beaufimmp, Los Angeles, Calif. STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRU- -MENT. Patent dated June 9, 1931. Disclaimer filed April 10, 1937, by

assignee of one-third interest, Paul M. Barth. Hereb enters this disclaimer to claim. 12 in said specification.

' ficial Gazefie July 28, 1987} 

